𝕯arlene had woken up weirdly refreshed and dazed, her eyes flickering around the unfamiliar room to comprehend where she was.

Memories of the night before came rushing back to her, so did the fact that where she now laid was not remotely the side of the bed she'd originally fallen asleep on.

Her heartbeat quickened when the feel of the arm thrown lazily around her stomach registered in her brain, even more so when the hard body behind her shifted slightly in sleep flushing her right against him.

Her mind was a jumble of emotions and the fact that she could slightly recall displacing the 'pillow barrier' built the night before sometime in her sleep because she'd been cold and in desperate need of some body warmth was definitely not helping.

So, she'd silently slipped out from under his grasp and shuffled into the guest room for a much needed early morning warm shower and set out dressed in a pair of joggers and a sweatshirt for a stroll through the nearest marketplace.

As if in a trance, fifteen minutes later, she'd found herself reciting her order of lattes and a few donuts to the barista at Beachwood Café.

Her mind had clearly not pondered over the consequences of showing up this early in the morning with no cover whatsoever, looking entirely like herself in a place which courtesy of a certain brunet's album release only the day prior had become infamous throughout the world.

This was entirely evident by the fact that the moment she seemed to get back to her senses, seeing the flurry of people dressed in Harry Styles merch lounging about in various corners of the café she almost shrieked and went running out the door like a madwoman.

"Ma'am, your order".

Flustered, she glances at the barista amusedly staring at her clearly unnerved state.

"Uhm. Yeah. Thank you", she manages to muster up, picking up the takeaway cups and the large brown envelope.

She turns to walk away but the second that she does, her startled eyes meet three pairs of curiously bright ones.

"Excuse me, are you . . . . are you, uhm, are you Darlene? Darlene Winslet?".

No! I'm a doppelganger, I'm a lost kitten. I swear I mean no harm. Please have mercy and pardon me!

Shocked, she blinks her eyes quietly noting that all three of the girls are wearing some or other Harry related thing.

God fucking dammit.

She forces a smile and nods, "Mhm".

Their eyes widen, grins taking over their faces at the sight of the quiet blonde waiting for them to continue.

"We love your channel! You're so talented", a different girl perks up, fishing out a notebook from her tote bag and longingly thrusting it towards her.

"Can we please get your autograph?".

Darlene being Darlene chuckles at their boldness and sends an apologetic smile the barista's way before placing her food on the counter and grabbing the notebook out of the girl's hand.

"For all three of us, please", the one who'd initially spoken up speaks in a timid voice.

Darlene nods smiling and enquires about their name, if they attended the Fine Line 'One Night Only' the previous night while she scribbles out different messages for the three on separate pages.

"Were you there?", they ask excitedly after confirming that yes, they did see Harry at the show last night.

She considers lying but there's something in the way all three of them are staring up at her that makes her grin with a shrug.

"Maybe".

They raise their brows prepared to ask more questions, she quickly hands the notebook back and retrieves her order left deserted over the glass counter.

"Have a good day", she nods smiling and walks out, mildly disconcerted and eager to get Harry's favourite rainbow sprinkled chocolate cream donuts to him.

***
happy saturday !!!
i love you all sm <3